Every morning when she gets up, Erin Byrne Vidovich looks in her bathroom mirror and, no matter how she may feel from her battle with cancer, a big smile crosses her face and her eyes sparkle.

Erin, who just turned 52, has been fighting breast cancer and lung and brain cancer for more than five years.

A few months ago, she told her husband John that battling cancer had taken a toll on the reflection greeting her in her bathroom mirror.

"I don't mean to be shallow and too focused on external appearances, but it's hard not to feel melancholy for the younger, cancer-free version of me," she said.

She missed her "old reflection" and felt she looked "absolutely haggard."

The next morning when Erin walked into the bathroom, she saw a large cut-out paper heart John had taped to the center of the mirror, with a handwritten note to "Erin, the most beautiful girl I've ever known."

"What a guy!" Erin said. "He made me feel so loved. I have moved the heart to the side of the mirror, but it still greets me every day, and somehow I am less bothered by the reflection in the mirror no matter what I look like."

Erin shared this story in a blog she started earlier this year detailing her struggle with cancer. She hopes her writing helps others dealing with cancer.

Erin's story is an example of what the Press-Telegram, in partnership with the Queen Mary, Pink Ribbons Crusade and City of Hope, is seeking from readers in connection with breast cancer awareness month, which begins Monday.

Breast cancer touches millions of people every year. We are inviting you to share stories of strength, encouragement and hope of people impacted by breast cancer.

Your nominees could be a nurse in a cancer center, a woman newly diagnosed, family members and friends who form a daily support system, or someone like Erin who thought she had beaten cancer when it came back in her lungs and brain.

Four nominees will be chosen to experience the Queen Mary as a "Princess for a Day." A fifth nominee will be chosen to experience the Queen Mary as a "Princess for a Weekend."

The day at the Queen Mary will include full access to the ship; a guided tour of the new exhibit, "Diana: Legacy of a Princess"; tea service; champagne; spa service for two; and a professional photo posted on the Queen Mary's social media platforms.

One person and a guest will be selected for "Princess for a Weekend" and will receive a two-night stay in a luxurious suite, dinner at Sir Winston's restaurant, champagne brunch, spa service for two, unlimited ship tours that include a guided tour of the Princess Diana exhibit, and a professional photo to be posted on Queen Mary social media platforms.

"We want to do something to raise awareness about breast cancer during October," said Steve Sheldon, director of entertainment events on the Queen Mary. He said the Queen Mary is partnering with the Pink Ribbons Crusade in bringing the Princess Diana exhibit to the ship.

"A portion of the proceeds from the Princess Diana exhibit will help fight breast cancer," Sheldon said. He added that helping raise money to fight breast cancer was one of Princess Diana's major charitable endeavors.

Contact information (name, address, phone number and email address) must be included.

Erin Vodovich told me that sharing her cancer journey, including her experiences, funny stories and life lessons, on her blog, "Erin's Serendipity," has been very satisfying. The blog is online at http://erinsse.blogspot.com/.

"It is my hope that I can share a laugh, some hope, or a tidbit of wisdom from the Lord with you. I hope you are blessed by it," she said.

As a little girl growing up in Long Beach, Erin said, one of her mother's favorite words was serendipity.

"She taught me that it meant `unexpected blessing.' When I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, I would not have called it a blessing, but it was an unexpected journey for certain," she said.

Her mother is 95 and lives in Artesia.

Erin is a native of Long Beach, was born at St. Mary Medical Center and graduated from Millikan High School and Cal State Long Beach with a degree in creative writing. Her husband is a risk management specialist with AAA in Orange County. They live in East Long Beach with sons Kyle and Matthew and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next month.

Erin's story came to our attention from Jan Calhoun, a longtime friend of Erin who told us that Erin's blogs were inspirational, insightful and helpful to family and friends of cancer patients who are trying to understand what a cancer patient goes through and how to support them.

Jan also noted that Erin creates "care" baskets at her own expense and gives them to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The care baskets include knit caps, a good book, a devotional, a scarf, a neck pillow, hand sanitizer, ginger tea and other items.

Erin is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the tumor in her lung, which is so close to her heart that it is inoperable. She had a mastectomy for her breast cancer and she has had one radiation treatment for the spots on her brain.

Those adversities are enough to make anyone feel angry or sorry for themselves.

But Erin's faith and love from her family and friends keep her optimistic.

On the eve of her 52nd birthday last week, Erin said: "Life is a mix of the good and bad, and the good Lord brings us through it all for a reason. So I'll celebrate my birthday and look ahead instead of behind. Here's to a new year and all the good things it will bring."